The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-08-04

demand. At this time there ard only
about $50 hands at work in the factories, the
main work shops having been recently con-
sumed by fire, at clear loss to the propri-
etors of $37, 10000. The machinery plant
cost the company $4,000. 1t is of the
latest patterns and most approved inven-
tions. The sole leather is made in Louis
vile, at the largest tannery in the world,
and the fine feathers are purchased in
Boston. The chairs and bedsteads are
made out of native woods, beach and
poplar, and they keep on hand at least
$50. 900 worth of lumber.
The penitentiary is model of neatness
and cleanliness. There are 900 cells, eve.
ry one of them freshly painted, and fur
nished with clean mattrass Gov. Knott,
in referring to this institution. expressed
the opinion that it was the best managed
institution of the kind in the United
States, and compared with it's former con-
dition, was pleasant home, The inmates
seemed to be cheerful under all the circum-
stances, and diligent in the performance
of the work assigned them. Each one has
a task, and when completed the balance of
the Gay is appropriated forest. When re.
leased from prison, some Of them become
useful citizens, and are prepared to meet
the responsibilities of life in a legitimate
way. Chas. E. Hoge is President of the
Company !; II, P. Mason. Manager, and G..
T. Blackley, Secretary and Treasurer
These gentlemen are well known in Vir-
ginia, and their high character is a guar
antee that justice tempered with mercy,
is the rule of their administration.
Besides this large business enterprise.
Mason. Hoge & Gooch, have contracts
at this time to construct 800 miles of rail
road, and employ over 8 900 hands. indie
pendent of the 500 convicts. The firm is
composed of G. E. Hoge. H. p. and Silas
Mason, w. F. cambridge, S. d. Gooch.
and another gentleman, whose name can
not be now stated.
Mr.. Hoge has purchased a small, beau
tiful farm handsomely improved within
few miles of Frankfort, where his interest
| ing family reside, and where he dispenSes a
true Virginia hospitality. Mr.. II. P.
Mason has splendid estate OF 400 acres
| in close proximity, with improvements
which originally cost ST. 90. 1t is fer
tile and valuable body of land, home
that a prince might envy.
Mr.. G. G. Gooch is also engaged in rail
reading and has several contracts, as has
DR.. C. r.. Mason. Both of them were
seen by your correspondent, and with
whom pleasant hour was passed.
| Louisville is an attractive and growing
city of 100000 population. The largest
source of commerce in it's business cate
CORY are tobacco and whisky. Last year
the tobacco trade reached nearly l4,000,-
900, and the whiskey business footed up
much larger. 1t is estimated that there
are million barrels of whiskey in Ken
tucky-much of it in Louisville-at this
time, representing capital of sixty or
seventy millions of dollars. The streets
of the city are lined with tobacco in hogs
heads, storage room not being sufficient
for more than one third of it. 1t is placed
on the side walks and covered with cloths,
occupying the space of whole squares. 1t is
an immense trade, and within few
months large fortunes have been made by
the rise in Burley, the price jumping from
and cents per Id. to 25 and 80 CENTS
Gen. Echols has his headquarters in Lou
Of
vision of the Huntington system of rail-
roads, reaching from the Atlantic at New
port News to the Pacific ocean. He seems
to know everybody that is worth knowing,
and to manage the intricate and extensive
business intrusted to his care, with an
ease, system, and efficiency, rarely wit
messed in so responsible position. Mr..
James L. Frazer. of StauntOn, is Super
intendent of one of the roads of the Hun
tington system, and among the other Vir-
ginians seen was Mr.. Archer Hartman.
who is engaged on contract in Mime
sofa, and occasionally making a deal in
real estate in Louisville. There are nu-
merous other Virginians, to be found scat
found are forging ahead in their respective
occupations. Louisvi lie is destined to be
great city and Kentucky great State,
when she shall throw off the incubus OF
Bourbonism and adopt the right side of
tile live political issues of the day. AS it
is the whole Commonwealth is under the
domination of the Coatrier-JoaraaM news
paper and its ruinuus notions of admins
trative policy.
| These notes have been strung out TOO long
to leave room for fitting notice OF thesplen-
did thoroughbred stock farms OF Alexander
and Harper. The former contains 5000
acres of the best of Kentucky blue grass
On it are the finest strains of trotters and
| racers, short horns and southdoWns and
Shetland ponies. Glen AthOl. Powhatan,
Falsetta. Lisbon. and two other stations,
compose the stud, and bring in revenue
annually of $4,000 or $4,000. There
are G5 mares and As colts on the place, and
each wear the sales of yearlings amount
to somewhere about $4,000. Of course
these do not comprise all the sales, as some
of the three year olds run up into the thou
sands apiece. Some of them especially the
yearlings, are marvels of beauty and SYM
metry, and one ceases to question the pas
ion for thoroughbreds, when he has once
ooked upon these graceful and attractive
animals.
Har0er's Nantura Stock Farm is known
the world over as the place where Long